Its free and works on PCs too.
Posted on 02/20/2002 12:37:08 PM PST by Dog Gone
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Microsoft's new version of its popular Media Player software is logging the songs and movies that customers play.
The company said Wednesday it was changing its privacy statement to notify customers about the technology after inquiries from The Associated Press.
The system creates a list on each computer that could be a treasure for marketing companies, lawyers or others. Microsoft says it has no plans to sell the data collected by Media Player 8, which comes free with the Windows XP operating system.
``If you're watching DVDs you don't want your wife to know about, you might not want to give her your password,'' said David Caulton, Microsoft's lead program manager for Windows Media.
The new privacy policy was issued Wednesday.
The media player has been bundled as a free addition to Windows for several years and allows users to play music CDs, DVD movies and digitally stored songs on their computers.
When a CD is played, the player downloads the disc name and titles for each song from a Web site licensed by Microsoft. That information is stored on a small file on each computer in the latest version of the software.
The new version released with Windows XP last fall also added the same technology for DVD movies.
Microsoft's original privacy statement informed customers that they were downloading the information about CDs but never stated it was being stored in a log file on each computer.
The new statement makes clear that information is being downloaded for both DVDs and CDs, but does not explain how users can eliminate or get into the log file.
``It definitely could have been clearer and more specific about DVDs,'' Caulton said.
As part of downloading the information about songs and movies from the Web site, the program also transmits an identifier number unique to each user on the computer. That creates the possibility that user habits could be tracked and sold for marketing purposes.
Privacy experts said they feared the log file could be used by investigators, divorce lawyers, snooping family members, marketing companies or others interested in learning about a person's entertainment habits. It also could be used to make sure users have paid for the music or movie, and have not made an illegal copy.
``The big picture might be the owners of intellectual property wanting to track access to their property,'' said Peter Swire, a law professor at Ohio State University.
Microsoft said the program creates the log file so a user does not have to download repeatedly the same track, album or movie information. The company said the ID number was created simply to allow Media Players users to have a personal account on the Web site dealing with the software.
Neither is sold or shared with others, and no information is collected on Microsoft's servers that would be personally identifiable, officials said.
``This is essentially a case where it (the ID) doesn't serve any purpose and it isn't used,'' Caulton said.
Jonathan Usher, another Windows Media executive, said Microsoft has no plans to market aggregate information about its customers' viewing habits, but would not rule it out.
``If users tell us that they want the ability to get recommendations, that's something we could look into on the behalf of users,'' Usher said.
In a recent memo, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates ordered his company to check for privacy and security concerns before adding new features.
``Users should be in control of how their data is used,'' Gates wrote. ``Policies for information use should be clear to the user. Users should be in control of when and if they receive information to make best use of their time.''
Privacy researcher Richard Smith, who researched how Media Player stored and transmitted the information, questioned why the program has to give chapter information for DVDs at all because almost all discs have chapter listings in an interactive menu within the movie.
He said the feature seems to conflict with Gates' directive.
``You can really see the Microsoft culture coming through that Gates wants to change. These guys are digging in their heels,'' he said.
On the Net: Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com
I do my best to avoid anything owned, operated or sold by microsoft.
No doubt MS had some future spyware in mind, that would read the logs and your RW registration......and zip a packet to the Mothership.
Most media players offer to download CD info. They've been doing this for years. I always say no thanks. Guess I'm a bit paranoid. I don't need news stories to tell me someone could be up to no good.
Privacy is irrelevant. You will be assimilated
Its free and works on PCs too.
Easily rendered harmless by unchecking "Allow Internet sites to uniquely identify your player" checkbox in Media Player.
You can check it yourself here: http://www.computerbytesman.com/privacy/supercookiedemo.htm
But they've gone too far. Between this and Product Activation for XP, they have gone over the line.
If you want an interesting player, check out Winamp. It lets you capture internet media to a file.
I'll bet not.
But editor or the free player do NOT track your movements.
From the Vector Development website:
Guideon allows you, the user to take control back over your identity. Microsoft Office applications include an identifier called a GUID (Globally Unique Identifier). This identifier is unique to each machine. As a result, any document could be traced back to its original creator. Guideon lets you remove these identifiers from the files with no ill effects to the data files.
The unique ID is the only link to the outside world - without it what's the difference?
This is one of the most blatantly stupid articles I've ever seen in my life. It's a pointless hit-piece with no evidence giving credence to the unspoken allegation.
OF COURSE IT CREATES LOG FILES....ALMOST ALL SOFTWARE CREATES A LOG FILE OF SOME SORT.
It's no issue unless MS accesses the log file and distributes info about the user, like Real Media was actually doing a few years ago.
...heh....hehehehe...hahahaha...BWAHAHAHAHAHA.
I'd take RM over QT any day of the week. And I hate RM.
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